Are people really materialistic around NoVA? (Washington: credit report, contractor, college)

[Workin_Hard]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

To better the world around you?

As compared to bettering your own world and enjoying life?

So instead of buying a nice car for yourself, is it 'better' to buy a cheaper car and use the excess to buy another car for someone who doesn't have one because they chose not to work so hard/smart?

I guess that's always an option but I can't imagine it being one many would choose...

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by Alicia Bradley

Any public transportation options to Shepherdstown?

Sure! You can take Amtrak (Capitol Limited route) from Union Station to Martinsburg, then take the PanTran bus to Shepherdstown.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

LOL !

Why is this such a difficult concept?!

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by Workin_Hard

As compared to bettering your own world and enjoying life?

So instead of buying a nice car for yourself, is it 'better' to buy a cheaper car and use the excess to buy another car for someone who doesn't have one because they chose not to work so hard/smart?

I guess that's always an option but I can't imagine it being one many would choose...

Talk about an entitlement mentality................

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by arielmina

wow i drive the japanese suv i want and that works for me and my family, i wear the clothes i want that i normally buy at the leesburg outlets, i don't have any other "toys" other than a riding habit that my daughter and i have (but we do not own horses). Frankly i couldn't care less what my neighbors are driving or wearing. Is this a problem? Should i move somewhere that we all shop at goodwill and drive rusted out chevy's?

I guess my point is - why do you all care so much about what other people have or have not?

exactly!!!!! Thank you!!!

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Workin_Hard

As compared to bettering your own world and enjoying life?

So instead of buying a nice car for yourself, is it 'better' to buy a cheaper car and use the excess to buy another car for someone who doesn't have one because they chose not to work so hard/smart?

I guess that's always an option but I can't imagine it being one many would choose...

Even I wouldn't do that. I'd buy the cheaper car and put the savings into investments so I can buy the more expensive car with cash a few years later.

[ACWhite]

Originally Posted by Workin_Hard

As compared to bettering your own world and enjoying life?

So instead of buying a nice car for yourself, is it 'better' to buy a cheaper car and use the excess to buy another car for someone who doesn't have one because they chose not to work so hard/smart?

I guess that's always an option but I can't imagine it being one many would choose...

Those aren't the only two options. Everyone who contributes money or time toward helping others could have spent that on him or herself. And there are many people in the world, including NoVA, who do make that choice every day. And I am sure you know that the reason you and they have more than others is not always a matter of your working harder or being smarter. There are many reasons why some have more than others, such as misfortune, disability of a child or family member, etc.

So to that extent, the answer to your question is a hearty "yes." They would agree that it is better (not in quotes) to buy a cheaper car or otherwise spend less on themselves (or spend less time vacationing or doing something purely recreational, or even sleeping more) so that they can devote that money or time to helping other people, animals, the environment or some other cause they believe is worthy. They may not be giving others 50% of what they have, but everything that they do give could have gone toward a selfish expenditure instead.

[Yankeesfan]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

To better the world around you?

They're not mutually exclusive. People who earn more pay higher taxes that fund other people's Medicaid, public housing, public schools, state universities, WIC, food stamps, free school breakfasts, free school lunches, TANF, stimulus-funded jobs, interest on the huge deficits run up by the stimulus-funded jobs, etc. Someone who spends more stimulates the economy more with their spending as well as paying a higher amount of sales taxes that help fund the above. Also they are able to make larger contributions to charity. It takes 40 $25 donations to equal one $1000 donation. I think it was on this thread that RR talked about how he makes smaller contributions to his church than other members because he earns less. That's not a criticism of him, he is generous with what he is able to give, but a concrete example of how higher-earners are not simply interested in spending only on themselves but can spend more for others too. Anyone who pays for their child to go to a private school is saving the taxpayers around $10,000 a year or more that their school system does not have to spend on their child.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by Workin_Hard

As compared to bettering your own world and enjoying life?

So instead of buying a nice car for yourself, is it 'better' to buy a cheaper car and use the excess to buy another car for someone who doesn't have one because they chose not to work so hard/smart?

I guess that's always an option but I can't imagine it being one many would choose...

I'm not sure why you can only enjoy life by spending all your money on yourself?

I chose my current job because I knew it would give me the financial stability to help others. It gives me great joy to sponsor orphans, "adopt" kids at Christmas time, and donate to charities around DC. I'm quitting next year to go into teaching, so my financial abilities are going to shrink, but I think I'll make just as much a difference with my time.

I don't think I'm alone in that thinking...I'm by no means a nun who's taken a vow of poverty (I take vacations and buy new shoes like most of us do), but I am aware that I make more money than I need, and it feels good to give it to others who need it more than me.

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

They're not mutually exclusive. People who earn more pay higher taxes that fund other people's Medicaid, public housing, public schools, state universities, WIC, food stamps, free school breakfasts, free school lunches, TANF, stimulus-funded jobs, interest on the huge deficits run up by the stimulus-funded jobs, etc. Someone who spends more stimulates the economy more with their spending as well as paying a higher amount of sales taxes that help fund the above. Also they are able to make larger contributions to charity. It takes 40 $25 donations to equal one $1000 donation. I think it was on this thread that RR talked about how he makes smaller contributions to his church than other members because he earns less. That's not a criticism of him, he is generous with what he is able to give, but a concrete example of how higher-earners are not simply interested in spending only on themselves but can spend more for others too. Anyone who pays for their child to go to a private school is saving the taxpayers around $10,000 a year or more that their school system does not have to spend on their child.

I realize that people who make more money pay more taxes, but I don't necessarily consider that a lack of materialism...it's involuntary contributions.

As for the second half of your statement, I think we're in agreement--some people take higher paying jobs because they want to be able to donate to charities and help others, not because they want to buy fancy cars.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

They're not mutually exclusive. People who earn more pay higher taxes that fund other people's Medicaid, public housing, public schools, state universities, WIC, food stamps, free school breakfasts, free school lunches, TANF, stimulus-funded jobs, interest on the huge deficits run up by the stimulus-funded jobs, etc. Someone who spends more stimulates the economy more with their spending as well as paying a higher amount of sales taxes that help fund the above.

What do the rich and materalistic want?! A cookie?!

I do the same thing and my salary is only $24k a year.